Attachment for bulldozer blades



y 1950 T. w. VON CARNOP 2,515,384

ATTACHMENT FOR BULLDOZER BLADES Filed 001;. 7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fmoms w.vo- CARNOP INVENTOR.

ATTORN E Y5 1950 1-. w. VON CARNOP 2,515,384

ATTACHMENT FOR BULLDOZER BLADES Filed Oct. 7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6564 INVENT R.

52 :2 Fl 5 6 ATTORNEYS Patented July 18, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE c.5153 ATTACHMENT FOB nuunozaa names Thomas W. Van Carnop, nuCity, Wash.

Application mm 1, 1m, Serial No. 101,718

2 Claims. (01. 214-140) 1 My present invention relates to the art ofearth moving machines and, more particularly to an attachment forbulldozer blades.

There are many forms of excavation still bein done 'by relative crudemeans, very often hand labor being resorted to. This is occasioned bythe fact that we have in general usage two types of earth-movingequipment, one with an adjustable blade which actually pushes the earthalong the surface. of the ground. This type is represented by thebulldozer and the various forms cradjustable blade scrapers. The secondtype of equipment is distinctly a carrying operation. Originally thewheeled scraper was used for this purpose, but this has been largelysupplanted by the various forms of carryalls and the like, which ofthemselves pick up dirt after the order of the old horse-drawn wheeledscraper, and can be used to transport the same for considerabledistances.

In between these two forms of earth moving equipment there is a specificneed for equipment that can be used to dig material and to pick up thesame and carry it, or to carry material that of necessity has beenloosened by a heavy bulldozer blade or scarifler. My invention falls inthis third group of earth moving machines.

My attachment for bulldozers provides an auxiliary digging blade withsupporting end walls, but uses the mold board of the bulldozer as abacking member for the substantially horizontal cutting blade. Means arefurther provided for holding my attachment in operating position andthen for selectively dumping the same.

The principal object of my present invention is, therefore, to providean attachment for bulldozers which will extend theirfleld of operationand permit them to work in very restricted places and to be able tocarry out of such places material loosened therein.

A further object of my invention is to provide, as a single unit, anattachment that can be quickly and securely applied to a standardbulldozer which will greatly increase its usefulness.

A further object of my present invention is to provide an earth carryingmeans for use in conjunction with abulldozer which provides in effeet adumpable bucket mounted on the lower portion of the bulldozer moldboardso that material loaded therein will dump by gravity when therestraining means is released.

A further object of my present invention is to provide means whereby abulldozer working in a narrow out can load material and back out withthe same and, if desired to spread the same evenly over a surface, thiscan be achieved.

A further object of my present invention is to provide means wherebymaterial can be picked up in one part of a tract of ground, transportedto another and there spread out evenly over the ground.

A further object of my present invention is to provide restraining andsecuring means for my dumpable bucket which can be easily secured to abulldozer blade and which will not aiifect its workability when thebucket arrangement is disconnected from the bulldozer.

A further object of my present invention is to have a unit which, actingin operation with the moldboard of the bulldozer, will provide means forcarrying materials of considerable weight from one point to another, orlower them from a height to the ground level or to pick them up from theground level and raise them a reasonable height.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from thedescription and the disclosure in the drawings or may be comprehended orare inherent in the device. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing my attachment in full lineperspective with a conventional type of suitable bulldozer for usetherewith, shown in dashed and dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing my earth carrying attachment in itsdumping position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing my earth carrying attachment forbulldozers in its locked position ready for use;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view from the point of view taken from a rearside position showing all the elements making up my bulldozerattachment;

Fig. 5 is a vertical, cross-sectional view through my attachment andshowing a bulldozer blade in dashed line relief; and

Fig. -6 is a fragmentary view in elevation showing a special diggingtooth adapted for use with my device.

Referring to the drawings throughout which like reference charactersindicate like parts, the numeral Ill designates the main or bottom plateof my device. This I prefer to form with a sharpened working edge, as H,and to bend the metal back on itself as indicated at l2, so as to givereal strength and rigidity to the plate and to give it adequate strengthfor penetration into firm ground. This construction is probably bestillustrated in Figure 5, where it will be noted that the entire plate isshown together with its point, as though made from a single piece ofmaterial. This is a desirable form of constructioh;"- However, if it isdesirable from the standpoint of 3 economy in material, the beveledpointed section, and asmuch more as necessary for strength, may be madeof the better grade of steel, while the balance of plate l may be ofcheaper steel which is still suitable for the service to be rendered.

Attention is invited to the fact that plate I0 is positionedsubstantially at the bottom of the mold board 1 4 of the bulldozer andextends forward in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of thebottom frame member of the bulldozer.

Secured to each end of plate iii are end plates 16 and i1. These platesare secured, preferably by welding thereto, to the ends of plate i0 andthe rearward extending edges of-plates i6 and I1, as H and 20,respectively, are curved soas to fit snugly into the curved face of thebulldozer blade of moldboard l4. In order to give rigidity to thestructure, I' provide inwardly extending plates or angle members 22 and23 secured substantially normal or at right angles to plates l6 and I!respectively, and to be further secured to the inner edge 25 of platei0, as by welding thereto.

Secured to the back of plates 22 and 23 I provide stiffeners 21 and 28.These are preferably welded to plates 22 and 23 and have their backsurfaces or edges,-29 and 80 respectively, curved similarly to thecurved edges l9 and of plates i6 and i1, so that they. too will comeinto snug engagement with the mold board of the bulldozer.

With the arrangement as described, it will be noted that abutmentagainst the moldboard of the bulldozer by my device is secured by theedges of the plates, namely the edges I 9 and 20 of plates i6 and H, theedges 29'and 30 of plates 21 and 28,

and the edge of plate i0. When so arranged, it has been found thatpacking of soil or materials behind my unit and between it and themoldboard of the bulldozer will be cut through by the high pressure perunit area Of the limited surfaces provided by these plate edges, so thatwe will at all times have a metal-to-metal bearing and the seating ofthe device in its operating position can be easily effected, even thoughthe soil conditions under which the machine is operating would normallytend to pack considerably and prevent this snug engagement were it notfor the reduction of area provided by the plate edges.

In order to position my attachmentflrmly in operable position on thebulldozer blade, or moldboard, I provide end mounting plates 3i and 32.These are adapted to be secured, as by a plurality of bolts 34, to theend plate 36 of the bulldozer blade assembly. Plates 3i and 32 carryjournals to accept the pivot pins 88 which normally are secured to endplates l6 and I! of my attachment and extend through plates 3| and 32and are secured in rotatable bearings therein and locked in place bysuitable washers and nuts.

In order to selectively secure my attachment in operating position onthe bulldozer blade assembly, I provide end bearing members 4|! and 4|,and central bearing members 42 and 43, all of which serve as journalsfor rod 45. These brackets may be secured to the bulldozer in anydesired manner although it has been found generally most convenient tomerely weld the same in place. Shaft 45 has fixedly secured to it latchmembers 41 and 48. These members are provided with the plate engagingfaces 50, which are formed as part of a hook arrangement on each of theoutboard ends of members 41 and 48. These faces are adapted to engageplates 22 and 23 of my attachment.

At their opposite ends, latch members 41 and 40 are provided with springcentering means at 52, so as to hold in operating position springs",which in turn rest on the side bars of the bulldozer assembly. Thesesprings normally urge the Method of operation My device can be mostsatisfactorily used under those conditions where it is so diflicult touse the existing or conventional equipment. ticularly relates to diggingfoundations, digging out basements under buildings that have alreadybeen constructed, and in many other types of work where it is necessaryto head the machine into the work space, load it, and back it out withits load. While my machine will work under many other conditions, thisis a particularly satisfying use.

Normally my device is secured to .the ordinary bulldozer blade assembly,by securing end plates 3| and 82 in place by bolts 34, then securing thevarious brackets as 4i, 42, 43, 40 in place on top of the moldboardsupporting means of the bulldozer. In this position, my entire assemblyis handled by the normal elevating and supporting means employed withthe bulldozer for its normal operation. Y 1 Where the materials aresufllciently loosened, and my device with latches in their lockedposition appears as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, the machine is advancedand a load of material is scooped up on plate Ill. The end plates I6 andI1 prevent spillage off the end of the plate and the moldboard of thebulldozer supplies the backing plate for the material thus collected.

Normally, after the bucket has been filled, the tractor is backed awayand the bucket may be elevated so that the supporting arms of thebulldozer assume the position of Figure 2, and under such conditions,considerable load can be carried without spillage. The load can now bedumped by pulling on rope 56 and the entire load deposited at one point.If it is desirable, my loaded bucket may be lowered to the'ground andtripped. The operator may then, by backing the tractor, spread thematerial out over a long swath. In this way a thin coating of thematerial can be spread in uniform thickness. This spreading operation isvery useful in grading or applying surfacing to acreage or roadways, andthe like. This operation can spread material uniformly over distancesseveral times as great as a. blade scraper or the back spreading of abulldozer.

To relatch my bucket after dumping, the bulldozer blade is lowered untiledge ii of my bucket engages the ground, at which time my bucket isrevolved about pivot 38 until the cam surfaces 58 of latches 41 and 48engage plates 22 and 23. This action forces the latches up and thensprings 53 complete thalatching operation, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and5.

Referring to Figure 6, I have illustrated a form of tooth that has beenfound very desirable in digging into impacted or otherwisesemi-solidifled material which the bulldozer does not have sumcientpower to drive the wide blade into. Under such conditions. I prefer toemploy a This parplurality of teeth extending out beyond the normal edgeI I, so that the same energy or pressure may be exerted by thebulldozer, but on a. much reduced area, so that greater penetration andbreaking up of the hard materials can be achieved. To be of practicalvalue, such a device must be capable of being quickly installed andremoved from the device, and to this end, I have provided the principalsecuring means in a tapered wedge 60, of which a sufficient number areto be employed so as to hold my auxiliary teeth in their adjustedposition of use. As an aid in centering these wedges, effecting easyalignment of their. multiplicity of holes, and preventing vibration, Iprovide securing bolts, as 62. The width of teeth 64 should be a matterdesigned in keeping with the type of material with which they are to beused, and while they may be formed as a plurality of separate teeth, Iprefer in many cases to have the lower connecting bar 65 extend for thefull width of bottom l0.

In addition to providing less frontal surface in contact with hardmaterial it will be noted that the slope of surface 66 is much moregradual than the normal surface of edge II, and this too has been foundto be of material assistance in penetrating firm or semi-solid material.

It will be clearly apparent, it is believed, from the above descriptionand the disclosure in the drawings that my invention comprehends a novelconstruction of a bulldozer attachment or bucket that is simple andpositive in operation. Further, it is simple in construction and makesmaximum use of the existing bulldozer parts to the end that it may becheaply constructed, even though it greatly increases the usefulness ofthe bulldozer itself.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A material moving device for use with a bulldozer having a moldboardconsisting of: a material moving-blade disposed in front of the loweredge of the bulldozer moldboard; end walls secured to each end of saidblade and curved adjacent the moldboard to fit the same; straight platessecured normally to said end walls and to said blade and resting on saidmoldboard only at the plate ends; stifleners secured normally to saidplates and curved on their free edge to fit said moldboard; attachmentplates secured to the bulldozer; pivot means between said end walls andsaid attachment plates disposed in front of and near the bottom of saidmol board; latch means adapted to secure said blad in a substantiallyhorizontal plane and means for releasing said latch means and permittingthe dumping of the material moving device.

2. A material moving device for use with a bulldozer having a moldboard,consisting of: a material moving bucket having a blade disposed in frontof the lower edge of the bulldozer moldboard; end walls secured to eachend of said blade and adapted to rest 0n the moldboard;

straight plates secured normally to said end walls and to said blade andresting on said moldboard only at the plate ends; reinforcing meansadapted to stiffen said bucket and to fit said moldboard; attachmentplates secured to the bulldozer; pivot means between said end walls andsaid attachment plates disposed in front of and near the bottom of saidmoldboard; spring urged latch means coacting with said straight platesadapted to secure said blade in a substantially horizontal plane andmeans for releasing said latch means.

THOMAS W. VON CARNOP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

